In the next few days, I discussed with Li Si and others how to amend the corvee law. The things and people involved were complicated, and it was quite tiring to deal with it.
Just when the first snowflakes fell in Xianyang, Zhang Yue, the governor of Kuaiji County, suddenly sent an urgent report: There was a rebellion in Kuaiji County!
I quickly asked Li Si and others to stop revising the law, and summoned the guard captains Bai Tu, Feng Quji, Feng Jie and others to discuss how to deal with the rebellion. I have no experience in dealing with rebellions. If it causes a chain reaction and war breaks out all over the world, it won't matter whether we reduce the corvee or not.
After Li Si read Zhang Yue's report, he raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Kuaiji County has always been the place where the most remnants of the Six Kingdoms are hidden. Unless Zhang Yue is not careful, it is indeed the remnants of the Chu State that are most active."
"I have reported that this rebellion is still caused by the Xiang family of Chu. Not only Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu, but also Zhang Liang who attacked the emperor in Bolangsha before. I suggest that these thieves must be captured this time. If we give them more time to grow, I'm afraid there will be endless troubles!"
I nodded, feeling extremely irritable inside.
According to history, Chen Sheng and Wu Guanghui would revolt in July next year, and Xiang Yu would raise his troops in September the following year. However, now that Xiang Yu's rebellion has been advanced so long, and Zhang Liang is also mixed up with him, if it cannot be put down in time...
After thinking about this, I said to Bai Tu: "Bai Tu, what is the military strength around Kuaiji now?"
Bai Tu replied: "Your Majesty, there are currently no large troops stationed around Kuaiji County, only troops from Kuaiji County. However, because many people from the old Chu gathered in Kuaiji County, the emperor specially increased the number of troops stationed in Kuaiji County. Now there are about 3,000 people. According to the report, the rebels numbered no more than a thousand, and they were a temporary mixed army with all kinds of people. I don’t expect them to be able to resist the county soldiers.”
Feng Quji also said: "Your Majesty, I suggest that some soldiers be transferred from the neighboring Jiujiang County and merged with the soldiers of Kuaiji County to defeat the rebels as soon as possible."
Li Si and Feng Jie nodded in agreement.
"Okay, then order Ying Yiyi to deploy half of his county's troops to support Zhang Yue. Bai Tu, you arrange for people to rush to Jiujiang immediately, lead the Jiujiang soldiers to Kuaiji, and order Zhang Yue to resist first, and then conquer with all their strength after joining forces. Li Si, you You are responsible for taking full command of the counter-insurgency, and you will allocate the necessary money and food." I ordered.
The two of them took the order and immediately went out to make arrangements.
————
Two months later, news came from Kuaiji County that the rebellion had been put down. Zhang Yue was worried about the resurgence of the rebels, so he did not return to Xianyang to report to me. Qi Liang, the left guard sent by Bai Tu, returned the Jiujiang soldiers and returned to Xianyang.
In the Sihai Palace.
Qi Liang said: "Your Majesty, this rebellion was put down in less than 10 days, but it took a lot of time to capture all the rebels and find out the people who colluded with the traitors. The leader Xiang Liang died in the battle, and Xiang Yu , Zhang Liang was captured and has been escorted to Xianyang and sent to prison. Your Majesty, please decide how to deal with the two of them."
Li Si said: "Your Majesty, these two people have repeatedly participated in or instigated rebellions and assassinated the emperor. They have committed heinous crimes and are unforgivable. I recommend that they be executed in accordance with the law."
Feng Quji responded and said: "Your Majesty, what Prime Minister Li said is reasonable. Zhang Liang is from Korea and Xiang Yu is from Chu State. Both of them are old nobles. In addition, Korea, Chu State and our great Qin have the most profound hatred, so we should treat this Those who are waiting must be eradicated without leaving any future troubles!"
Feng Jie and Meng Yi also hold this view.
I nodded and said, "What the gentlemen said coincides with what I think. However, I want to interrogate the two of them personally."
Li Si hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, these two are extremely vicious. I am afraid that I will hurt Your Majesty."
But he was thinking in his heart: 'If it were the First Emperor, he would definitely ignore these young men and just interrogate and kill them directly. Why bother to interrogate him personally? His Majesty is only 15 years old, and his thoughts are still different from those of us veterans...'
I smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter. If the two of them can hurt me in prison, it will be a big deal in the world. I will leave this matter to Meng Yi."
Seeing my persistence, everyone said nothing more, and Meng Yi took the order and went down to prepare.
Two days later, I met Xiang Yu in prison.
At this time, although Xiang Yu was covered with scars and had been punished a lot, his eyes were still wide with anger and his burly body was a little stooped.
Because I had changed into casual clothes, Xiang Yu didn't know my identity. As soon as I sat down, Xiang Yu roared: "Why, there is no one left in Barbarian Qin? He actually sent a child to humiliate me!"
This roar really startled me, he is worthy of being the Overlord of Western Chu!
Xing Zhong also shouted loudly: "Stop the traitor, this is me, the Second Emperor of Qin! Why don't you bow your head and plead guilty!"
Xiang Yu was also stunned. He didn't expect that the child who had just ascended the throne would have the courage to interrogate him.
Then he laughed and said: "Humph, I didn't expect that Barbarian Qin still had some backbone, and the second emperor actually had the courage to come to me in person. However, what crime did I, Xiang Yu, commit? It's you Barbarian Qin who is tyrannical and cruel, and your tyrannical rule destroys everyone. Get it and kill it!"
I stabilized my mind and said, "You said that our Great Qin's tyranny and atrocities were brutal, but without me, the world would still be in war and strife, and the people would be displaced. Your repeated rebellions, wouldn't it make the people fall into the pain of war again?"
Xiang Yu snorted coldly and said: "The pain of war is the pain of overthrowing tyranny. If the pain of war has an end, when will the pain of tyranny be relieved?"
I replied: "The laws of the Qin Dynasty are indeed harsh, but they are also for the sake of the stability of the world. Moreover, I have been aware of this problem and have already started to prepare to reduce the corvee and recuperate with the people. If you are willing to submit to the Qin Dynasty, I can consider it Give you a break."
Xing Zhong's heart tightened when he heard this. There were only three of me in the prison at this time, but Xing Zhong had followed Ying Zheng for many years and didn't speak.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Yu suddenly pulled forward and almost lifted the chair fixed to the ground. Xing Zhong immediately protected me.
Xiang Yu didn't break free, so he sat back and said, "You want me to surrender to Bao Qin, what a wishful thinking! I have an sworn hatred with Bao Qin. If you let me go, I will raise troops again and vow to overthrow Bao Qin!"
I shook my head and thought to myself: "Yu's bravery is unparalleled throughout the ages, but the overlord of Western Chu is just a crown prince!" More than enough bravery, not enough wisdom! '
I sneered and said: "You said before that the reason for raising the army is to protect the people of the world from the misery of harsh government, but in my opinion, it is just for the selfish purpose of restoring the country and becoming king in the name of saving the people of the world! I thought you If he is really a hero, he may be able to serve the Qin Dynasty and bring peace to the world, but now it seems that he is just a penny."
Xiang Yu was furious: "When you Tyrannical Qin slaughtered the six kingdoms, did you ever think about the people of the world? Countless people from my Xiang family died at the hands of Tyrant Qin. You want me to serve Tyrant Qin. Wait until I wipe out your Ying clan." It’s never too late to talk about it later!”
Seeing Xiang Yu's attitude, I knew it was impossible to win him over, so I waved my hand, and Xing Zhong immediately called someone in to take Xiang Yu out.
Xiang Yu kept shouting: "The Qin Dynasty is violent and unethical, everyone will punish it! Everyone will punish it!"
I said to Xingzhong: "Bring Zhang Liang in."
Xiang Yu can't keep him, but Zhang Liang must find a way to bring him under his command no matter what!
